The future of one Lionel Messi has been the subject of much speculation of late, with David Beckham’s MLS club Inter Miami once again being linked as a likely destination for the Argentine.
However, Messi is also being linked with a stunning return to Barcelona just a couple of seasons after leaving the La Liga club.
Meanwhile, Barcelona may already be planning who will be their next head coach despite club legend Xavi only being on the job for a year.
Read on below as SBOTOP lists down the latest news and updates surrounding La Liga.
Lionel Messi linked with Barcelona return
Lionel Messi left Barcelona – the only club he’d known for 21 yards – in dramatic circumstances last season and signed for French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
But now, it seems Barcelona are plotting to bring him back, with one report claiming they might try to do so in January!
Aside from Barca, David Beckham co-owned MLS club Inter Miami have also been strongly linked with a move for Messi.
Of course, Messi returning to Barca in the winter seems highly unlikely as Barcelona have crashed out of the Champions League group stage for the second straight year, while PSG – with Messi in fantastic form – looking like genuine title contenders.
Messi’s contract with PSG expires at the end of the season, which is why it’s much more realistic that any Messi move would take place in the summer.
Andres Iniesta, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, said recently in an interview that “it’s still a possibility” that Messi could return to the Camp Nou, so it could yet happen.
Barcelona eyeing Mikel Arteta as next coach
Aside from Messi, another big name Barcelona have been linked with is Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta.
Barcelona have reiterated their confidence in Xavi despite their disappointing Champions League exit and do not appear to be keen to replace the Barca legend at this time.
Although, things could change if the Blaugrana deliver underwhelming La Liga 2022 results, and if they do decide to move on from Xavi, Arteta might be at the top of their coaching wish list.
Arteta is having a terrific season with Arsenal, leading the Gunners to the top of the Premier League standings. And the Spaniard also has strong Barcelona ties as he came up through Barca’s youth system and also served as an assistant for Barca great Pep Guardiola.
Franck Kessie’s agent disputes departure rumours
Franck Kessie’s agent has denied rumours that the Barcelona midfielder wants to leave the club in January despite arriving on a free transfer and signing a four-year deal just a few months ago.
“It’s all fake news, totally false,” Kessie’s agent told Mundo Deportivo. “He is happy in Barcelona and he doesn’t want to leave.”
“Franck has only been at the club for a few months, still in the process of adapting to the team and Barça’s style of play.”
Kessie has been below the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Sergio Busquets, and Frenkie de Jong in the Barca midfield pecking order and has found it hard to get consistent playing time this season. He has appeared in just seven La Liga matches, with two starts.
And he has also been hampered by injuries. In fact, he suffered a thigh injury in Barcelona’s 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League and may be out for a few weeks.
Defiant Simeone doesn’t want to leave Atleti
Diego Simeone does not intend to leave Atletico Madrid despite failing to lead the club past the Champions League group stage.
Los Rojiblancos failed to make it out of the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2018 and just the second time in a decade despite being heavy favourites in a group that included Porto, Club Brugge, and Bayer Leverkusen.
“It’s a hard moment, but I will continue push hard with this club to get something we want, such as the Champions League,” Simeone said.
Simeone’s current deal with Atleti, which makes him the highest-paid manager in the world, expires in 2024. Simeone’s Atleti side will no longer have European football this season after they lost 2-1 to FC Porto in their Champions League finale. And their La Liga 2022 odds of reclaiming the title are not great as they remain nine points behind city rivals Real Madrid.
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